PAS leaders dismiss talk of joining unity govt

PAS leaders claimed they are in the dark over purported talks for the Islamist party to join the unity government led by Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim.

PAS deputy president Datuk Seri Tuan Ibrahim Tuan Man said there were no formal discussions on the matter by its leadership.

“We are committed to strengthening the cooperation in PN (Perikatan Nasional) to face any by-elections or elections in the future,” he told journalists while on the campaign trail in Sungai Bakap last night.

PAS is fielding Abidin Ismail in Sungai Bakap while PH is represented by former principal Joohari Ariffin.

PAS ulama council chairman Ahmad Yahaya said that PN was focused on the Sungai Bakap by-election.

“If we really wanted to be friends (join the unity government), we would not be going against them in the by-election,” he declared last night.

Unity government spokesman Fahmi Fadzil was earlier reported to have been “non-committal” when asked about discussions on the possibility of PAS joining the Madani government.

The Islamist party has seen its best electoral performance, having captured two Malay heartland states of Perlis and Kedah and retaining with two-thirds majority the states of Kelantan and Terengganu.

Gerakan vice-president Datuk Baljit Singh said that he is in the dark over the alleged talks between PAS and the unity government.

He said that the focus is on becoming a credible opposition in Penang.

The electoral roll for the state seat of Sungai Bakap has 39,279 voters, consisting of 39,222 regular voters and 57 police officers.

A total of 522 election workers will manage the by-election process, while over 600 police officers will be deployed to ensure security.

In the Penang election last August, Nor Zamri, who was the Nibong Tebal PAS chief, defeated Pakatan Harapan candidate Nurhidayah Che Rose by 1,563 votes.

The Sungai Bakap polls is the eighth by-election to be held after the 2022 general election.

The campaign period commences today and ends before midnight on July 5.

July 6 is polling day and early voting is on July 2. – June 23, 2024.